Open the Door of Lin-Sanity

There is a powerful principle in life that Solomon, the wise king of Israel, once stated: “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:16). Just when you thought the Tim Tebow craze was a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon, destined to expire at the end of one memorable NFL season, along comes the NBA version of him. As we all know, the NBA got off to a late and rocky start due to salary rifts and squabbles between players and ownership. It was a miracle that the season even got off the ground. Would fans still support their teams? Was there any “feel good” story that the public could follow to restore hope in the essence and passion of the game?

Enter one Jeremy Lin, Harvard business grad and recent D-League property of the NBA’s New York Knicks. After being left for roster-dead by his home state Golden State Warriors and later, the Houston Rockets, the underachieving and injury-depleted Knicks signed Lin. He rode the pine before his demotion to their D-League affiliate, the Erie Bay Hawks, but that all changed when key injuries to two of New York’s highest priced starters opened the way for the 6’3″ guard to help the faltering Knicks try to right the ship. He did more than that. In the 4 games since he was named a starter he has led the team to 5 straight victories, scoring 28, 25, 23, 38, and 20 points, respectively. So astonishing is the 23-year-old’s success that he has had to crash on a couch at his brother-in-law’s Lower East Manhattan apartment for the time being, since he has no place of his own. The fans are filling Madison Square Garden, delirious with the delicious disease of “Lin-sanity” and forcing Knicks’ coach, Mike D’Antoni to admit, “What he’s doing is amazing.” The Asian-American has also got a cult following in the Orient.

Where did Jeremy Lin come from and why is he so popular all of a sudden? Born to Taiwanese immigrants in Palo Alto, California, he was your typical American kid. His parents, both just 5’7″ tall, saw something in their son, however. Jeremy’s father stressed academics first, then sports. So, after his homework was done (remember, the guy went to Harvard!), at 8:30pm each evening, father and son went to the local YMCA to play some round ball. Lin cut his teeth in the Palo Alto church leagues growing up before pursuing his business degree out east in the Ivy League. A devout Christian, Lin has expressed his respect for Tim Tebow and what he has brought to the public’s eye. Like Tebow, Lin exhibits a refreshing humilty and contagious sense of character that make his peers look up to him. After Lin torched the L.A. Lakers’ for 38 points, Knicks’ forward, Jared Jeffries, said, “It is weird for a guy to come in and be a team leader who has bounced around like he has. He has inspired us to play harder because he gives it his all every day.” Tyson Chandler, the Knicks’ centre, also added: “I think he’s taken us all by surprise. Not only us, but the league right now. It’s contagious. You have to love a kid like that.”

It’s no secret that people follow leaders. Leaders who have character attract people who, deep down, desire the same. God promotes those types of leaders. When interviewed he constantly deflects praise to his coach and teammates. Sound familiar? Tim Tebow did the same thing and now Jeremy Lin wants this written on his resume. God has allowed his athletic gift to be on the world’s stage for all to see, and Jeremy Lin is making sure he gives credit where credit is due. He knows the Lord got him here, and he also knows it is the Lord that must take centre stage in the arena of his life. What many are calling “Lin-sanity” makes perfect sense to someone who is rooted and grounded in God.